UN Envoy Susan Rice Is Top Candidate to Succeed Clinton

Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Senator John McCain of Arizona said
he would oppose Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations, to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and would
seek to block the nomination if President Barack Obama picks her
for the job.

“I’m adamantly opposed and will do everything I can to keep
her from getting confirmed,” McCain, the ranking Republican on
the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an interview. He
said she shouldn’t get the position because of her remarks about
the fatal Sept. 11 attack on the American diplomatic mission in
Benghazi, Libya.

Rice, 47, remarked on Sunday television talk shows on Sept.
16 that the Benghazi attack began as a peaceful protest that was
“hijacked” by militants. The Obama administration said she
based her comments on intelligence reports at the time.
Republicans have questioned whether Rice was trying to conceal
that terrorists were behind the assault.

Rice is considered a favorite to be secretary of state when
Clinton leaves the administration, according to White House
officials who have spoken about the position on condition of
anonymity.